Behavioral Health Specialist, ICR
Community AccessFounded in 1974, Community Access continues to uphold and operate as a pioneer of supportive housing and social services in NYC for people with mental health concerns. We proudly lead advocacy efforts that rally our community to promote human rights, social justice, and economic opportunities for all. We are built upon the simple truth that people are experts in their own lives. Our programs are spread across 25 locations and include over 1200 units of supportive housing in three boroughs, the Howie the Harp Advocacy Center, Peer-driven Crisis Respite Center, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and the Intensive Mobile Team (IMT).
Program/Department Description
Community Access’s OMH licensed Intensive Crisis Residence (ICR) is inspired by the Soteria model and is designed as an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization for people going through an acute psychiatric crisis and who would benefit from a respite period in a stabilizing, home-like environment with 24-hour peer support and treatment services. The Soteria ICR will work with guests for up to 28 days to help them develop awareness and skills that will allow them to return to the community with an increased ability to manage their mental health concerns. The ICR will follow a Soteria model which emphasizes shared running of a home-like environment, positive expectations of recovery, validation of subjective experiences, the concept of “being with” a person, providing 1:1 support, 24 hours a day, and self-determination. Services are completely voluntary, and guests are encouraged to maintain their daily responsibilities and activities in the community during their stay including work, school, family care, recreation, and wellness appointments. The program works with guests throughout their stay on discharge planning focused on safety and wellness, and provides post-discharge follow up health resource navigation support.
Position Overview
The Soteria ICR Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) provides a range of individual and group-based therapeutic supports and is an integral part of the multi-disciplinary ICR team. The BHS is responsible for engaging participants through a trauma-informed, recovery-focused, harm-reduction lens. Using a range of therapeutic strategies and motivational interviewing that targets an individual’s readiness for change, the BHS is a resource to guests and team members in supporting issues related to mental health and co-occurring substance use.
Key Performance Indicators
- Progress Notes are entered within 48 hours of the contact.
- A minimum of 10 individual contacts per week are entered to AWARDS (to guests who have accepted the offer of BHS services).
- Group sessions, tailored to the current guests’ goals, are offered at least 3 times per week.
- Supervision notes are entered on a weekly basis, within 48 hours of the supervision meeting
- Annual evaluations for supervisees are completed on-time.
Job Qualifications
- Have an understanding, appreciation, and commitment to the philosophy and mission of Community Access.
- Minimum of Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, Criminal Justice or other Health and Human Services related field. required; LMSW or related license, preferred
- Minimum of two (2) years’ experience working with individuals with a mental health condition with co-occurring substance use disorder.
- Have lived experience with the mental health system and willingness to share personal experience appropriately and respectfully, preferred.
- Available to work a flexible schedule, mornings, evenings and weekends in response to participant needs.
- Must be able to work in the community, including use of public transportation.
- Computer proficiency in Windows operating systems and programs, such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as comfort with learning new electronic systems.
- Bilingual Spanish-speaking, preferred. Ability to speak other relevant languages is a strong asset.
- Must be fingerprinted and cleared by the New York State Justice Center.
Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.
Interested candidates should apply on www.communityaccess.org/jobs.
Community Access is an Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F/D/V.
Women, People of Color and Members of the LGBT community are strongly encouraged to apply.
We are dedicated to a workforce where at least 51% of our employees identify as having a personal experience using
mental health services. www.communityaccess.org